Vashishth Gufa(Cave):

About 20km ahead of Rishikesh is located the ashram of Swami Purshottamanand ji. Who was earlier associated with Yogoda Satsang(Sri Yogananda of Kriya Yoga) and later left that and settled in this place. He used to give talks on Yog Vashishth, a scripture of intense vairagya. Many brahmcharis use to stay with him to study the scripture.

Many decades back, Swami Jananananda ji used to go to that ashram. He developed friendship with one of the disciples of Swami Purushottamanand. So when ever he would visit the ashram, Swami Janananand ji would take long walks with that disciple. Once it so happened, they were taking walk around the ashram and Ganges was flowing way down. Another person who was walking along with them asked the particular disciple that if your Gurudev asked you to jump in to the Ganga below what will you do. Without waiting to give reply, that disciple jumped in to the river below. Fortunately, he was saved by the divine interference from any major injuries. This left the other two spell bound and in future no one took that disciple lightly.   

                                                   Vashishth Ashram as seen from Ganges side

This is the story of Bhumananda ji. Who came to the Swami Purushottamanand for sanyas. First time Swamiji refused him. Next time again he came, and walked down to the Ganga below. As he was taking bath there, a dead body flowing in the Ganges touched him. He at once took off its shroud and discarding his own clothes wrapped it around himself. From that day on wards, he sat under a tree and did not return to the ashram only a few hundred feet away. Other disciples will serve him food there by the Ganges which he would eat himself or give to some dogs or fish in the river. This went on for six months. All the other disciples thought that may be he has gone mad but Swami ji told them that he is all right. After spending six months like this, one day Swami ji sent a message to him to come up. He was asked to be ready for diksha next day after taking bath in the Ganges. Thus the particular disciple was initiated and names Bhoomanand. Presently, Swami Chaitanyanand is looking after the Vashishth Ashram and he was taught Geeta by Bhoomanand.

                                                                Swami Chaitanyanandji

There is a great cave in the ashram which is excellent to meditate. One should go inside and sit in its silence and darkness in front of the Shivalingam, feel the vibration of innumerable saints & sadhaks who sat there and got uplifted. Though the story of Bhumanand is long and fascinating, if one desires to read it from first hand experience than one should refer to the book of Swami Jananananda by the title “Ateet Yatra” or "Transcendent Journey". It is available both in Hindi and English. It is an excellent book to read which in the words of Swamiji, “If you read the book, the book will read you”…..Om! 

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